Is economics as divisive as politics and religion?
When my oldest daughter went to the University of Maryland, her first major was economics, she changed majors several times before graduated. Those economics books were paid for so I was determined to read them. I was surprised to see so many differing theories. It is not an exact science by any means. The best you can hope for is a consensus among leading experts.isn't Economics a reality? Whereas Politics and Religion are; well, I don't know what they are!
The only numbers talked about were my smartphone example. Of course I'm not privy to HH numbers but I not only deal with them in the model train market but in the RC radio and model market as well. I really don't think they are hurting. My main point is that you can't put them in the same category as the little, for lack of a better term, mom and pop, vendors who bring a niche, very limited run product to market more as a labor of love than anything else. I think some here have tried to do that. Personally, I do believe there is a huge markup on HH products and I think it's greed but that's strictly my opinion.Are you sure about those numbers Noah? I think it would be a bit difficult doing an analysis of a corporate profit and loss on an organization the size of Horizon Hobbies.
I certainly wouldn't be throwing rocks at a business unless I knew for sure the inside details.
I was a Military Psychologist all my adult life. That and a teacher at university after I retired.
If you feel belittled, that is also your choice, and I won't apologize for it.
I have one of those new $700 phones, and it works just as well as the $1500 one. It can make the same calls, uses the same internet, and has all the same guts as the more expensive one. What it doesn’t have is a screen that has such high resolution I’d have to view an image from it under a microscope to see how good it is. I did spring for the extra $50 to double its internal storage. I just can’t justify an extra $750 to get something that I can’t tell the difference just so I can have the newest and bestest one.The only numbers talked about were my smartphone example. Of course I'm not privy to HH numbers but I not only deal with them in the model train market but in the RC radio and model market as well. I really don't think they are hurting. My main point is that you can't put them in the same category as the little, for lack of a better term, mom and pop, vendors who bring a niche, very limited run product to market more as a labor of love than anything else. I think some here have tried to do that. Personally, I do believe there is a huge markup on HH products and I think it's greed but that's strictly my opinion.
I have just re-read my original post and I feel it was simply a general comment on prices 20-25 years ago compared to prices today. It was not an admonishment not to buy modern equipment; but, simply a statement about the state of this hobby. I have the right to do what I like and certainly was never telling anyone else, what to do.
Take what I like to call "Voodoo" economics for example. (Give credit to George H. W. Bush for that phrase) it's been tried over and over and it's always the same, the rich get richer. the economy rises, but eventually falls and the national debt rises steadily. That is one theory most leading economists agree on, but politicians keep trying to sell us on it and many of us keep buying.
Being frugal has nothing to do with financial status. From my experience the most frugal customers I have had were also the most affluent
Is economics as divisive as politics and religion?
Being frugal has nothing to do with financial status. From my experience the most frugal customers I have had were also the most affluent.
It’s the best of US style free-market capitalism...we can can choose to buy or not as our hearts and wallets desire
Is anyone from the Forum going to quit the model railroading hobby because of inflation?
Greg
Mike....
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Just wait until the credit card's monthly statement arrives and the Mrs. opens it. I'll blame the money I spent on the RDC on inflation!!!
Greg
Heck no, I’m embracing it. Inflation is producing some really nice locomotives, and rolling stock.
Not any time soon, per my reply to migalyto above.Is anyone from the Forum going to quit the model railroading hobby because of inflation?
Greg
There is a huge difference in the basic principles of economics, versus how the principles combine into economic systems. Unfortunately in common speaking people refer to both as simply "economics". The basic principles (what I call economics 101) include things that are, as NP2626 says, a reality and include things like supply and demand, price that the market will bear, cost vs benefit, pricing ceilings and floors, the drive to zero profit, etc. Economic systems gets into currencies, credit, forms of government (capitalism vs communism vs etc.), and how much the government does or does not do things to effect and change the natural ebb and flow and cycles of economic trends. Yes this latter form of economics is an infinite bundle that is not science, is greatly impacted by politics and culture, and which is why economics majors have lots of fodder for PhD dissertations.Is economics as divisive as politics and religion?
Isn't "Economics" a reality? Whereas Politics and Religion are; well, I don't know what they are!
When my oldest daughter went to the University of Maryland, her first major was economics, she changed majors several times before graduated. Those economics books were paid for so I was determined to read them. I was surprised to see so many differing theories. It is not an exact science by any means. The best you can hope for is a consensus among leading experts.
THAT will never happen. There will always be 'third world' people, however, if things keep going as some folks want, it will be us.We can only speculate what will happen when we run out of third world people to exploit.
I was perusing this site:Heck no, I’m embracing it. Inflation is producing some really nice locomotives, and rolling stock.